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Tips for Each Creation Coffee

Here are some of the things
I have learned while brewing the different varieties of Trung Nguyen coffees.
Your own discoveries, of course, may be quite different based on your
preferences.

Creation 1, Culi Robusta: When you use 1 tablespoon per cup, this
is a richly flavored coffee that also provides the mellowness of an Arabica...
a surprisingly broad flavor with a bit of a bite. Personally, I like to
strengthen it a bit and go for the great aromatics of this variety by
using a tablespoon and a half per 8-ounce cup. This is a great coffee
to serve iced. You can pour it directly over ice and it will not taste
diluted. It requires less creamer and sugar than a typical Arabica iced
coffee. If you brew it extra strength for iced coffee you may find that
it picks up some bitterness in the aftertaste. However, the strong initial
taste and aroma may be worth it if you want a strong iced coffee.

Creation 2, Robusta Arabica: The Creation #2 can be brewed using
anywhere between 1 and 2 tablespoons per cup. This is such a balanced
coffee that it is great when mild, and just gets more rich when brewed
extra strength, without any added bitterness. Adjust to your taste.

Creation 3, Arabica SE: Arabica SE is Trung Nguyen's richest Arabica
with the least bitterness. It is fine brewed at 1 tablespoon per cup but
I generally like to add 50% - 100% more coffee because I generally like
a strong coffee and this one holds up to much stronger brewing without
acquiring any negatives. It's also fabulous iced, and I would brew it
at the stronger concentration for iced

Creation 4, Premium Culi: This is a coffee that uses Arabica and
Robusta but also the somewhat rare varieties of Chari and Catimor. Since
it is also an all-culi (unsplit bean) blend, it has the most complex and
full-bodied flavor of the TN line. Generally not a coffee for people who
like mellower coffees and Arabicas, this coffee gets a bite on if you
brew it strong, which is exactly what some people prefer. This is probably
the favorite blend among Vietnamese-Americans, because they tend to like
their coffee strong, dark, acidic and somewhat bitter, characteristics
that are not only respected but preferred among people who are used to
this type of flavor being what coffee is all about. When brewed at a tablespoon
per cup it really doesn't seem all that strong, just very dark and a little
acidic. But people who likes this blend best usually double up on the
strength and go for brass ring. When iced, the coffee can be poured hot
directly over ice without tasting diluted. Some of the pungent flavors
will leave a bitter aftertaste, but the initial flavor of each sip is
highly aromatic and inviting.
Creation 5, Culi Arabica: The Culi Arabica should be brewed like any
fine Arabica, one tablespoon per cup. If you increase the strength you
may lose the wonderful mellow flavor that comes with this coffee. The
Culi selection already adds an intesting edge to the Arabica. This makes
a fine iced coffee, but it is best cooled before adding to ice.

Creation 8, Legendee: The Legendee coffee has one of the most balanced
flavors of coffee I have experienced when it is served hot. No matter
how you brew the Legendee you will know you have one of the world's best
coffees in your cup, but consider the single-cup brewer for the authentic
Vietnamese coffee-shop experience. This is the one that the tourists try
to buy when they get home, but it's not exported to the US except through
this website online. The Legendee creates a flavor explosion when it is
iced. I don't know how else to describe it. No matter what you have done
with it when hot, or if you have cooled it for hours or let it sit, when
poured straight over ice you may not even want any cream and sugar (the
Vietnamese generally prefer their iced coffee without creamer). I stand
by my assertion that the Legendee is the finest iced coffee in the world.
Be careful on storage; the exceptional aromatics of this blend don't survive
long storage after opening unless you seal it very tightly against the
air.

Creation 9, Passiona: The Passiona is blend of selected beans that
are already low in caffeine. Surprisingly flavorful and devoid of any
bitterness, you can adjust the amount you use to your own taste. I like
it at about 1.5 tablespoons per cup, but it is fine at 1 tablespoon. It
is a fabulous iced coffee and can be poured over ice if brewed at 1.5
tablespoons, or it should be cooled some before pouring over ice if brewed
at 1 tablespoon per cup. It's an excellent keeper. If I have made a carafe
of Passiona and I don't use it all, I sometimes ice it hours after brewing
and sitting in the carafe and it is still totally outstanding. Save any
extra in the fridge.

House Blend: The House Blend is a great all-around coffee with
style, aromatics and rich flavor without heavy roasting. It seems to only
deliver the full flavor when brewed sparingly, 1 tablespoon per cup maximum.
When you add more coffee, it just seems to brew wrong rather than just
kicking up a notch. Why fight it? It's an incredible value and it likes
to be brewed using a low volume. Yet it's the first coffee I tasted from
TN and this is what sold me on TN coffees, it's just a great all-around
coffee for both hot and cold serving. When iced it may have a little bitter
aftertaste from the stronger beans in the blend, but you will love the
"nose" and the taste of each sip.This is a great choice for
brewing in office "Bunn-style" machines and percolators popular
at church and club gatherings. Replace any coffee you are currently using
in these machines with the House Blend and everybody will notice the gourmet
difference.

Premium Blend: Being a little milder than the House Blend, the
Premium Blend seems to be a little more forgiving when brewed extra strength
if that is to your taste. Start with the standard 1 tablespoon per cup,
though. When iced it is similar to the House Blend but with more of an
Arabica overall taste.